According to TD Noel Harrington sums
Lending his to the EU fiscal compact treaty, Fine Gael TD Noel Harrington says its ratification will ensure future governments adopt a “sensible approach to spending”.
The Dáil deputy says he has done the sums which support his stance on the upcoming referendum.
According to 2012 estimates, the Irish Government will be spending €55.85 billion but only taking in €38.08 billion, the Cork deputy told the Dáíl last week.
That means that €12,192 is being spent for every man, woman and child in this country, while only €8,312 is being raised in taxes and other income per person.
That means that €12,192 is being spent for every man, woman and child in this country, while only €8,312 is being raised in taxes and other income per person.
We are overspending by €3,879 for every man, woman and child.
Harrington argued that previous government squandered billions of euro on “pet and vanity projects” such as e-voting and Stadium Campus Ireland (or the Bertie Bowl as it became known).
Such projects – a long with 18 others – amounted to €7.3 billion of mismanagement and waste between 1997 and 2007, he said.
Breaking down the figures further, Harrington said the money to be spent on each member of the Irish population this year could be divided as follows:
- €4,485 on social welfare
- €3,065 on the health service
- €1,971 on education
- €500 on the provision of the justice system.
In simple terms, the money received per person can be broken down in the following way:
- €3,294 in income tax
- €2,130 in VAT
- €1,000 in excise duties
- €305 in stamp duties.
Technology to the forefront again?
Technology sector firms to create 145 more jobs in Galway & Dublin 
Cloud computing 
Pictured L to R, Damian Gleeson, president of Shannon Chamber of Commerce; Mark Scanlon, CEO of SourceDogg; Minister Richard Bruton; Alan Phelan, partner in Nucleus Venture Partners and Helen Downes, CEO of Shannon Chamber of Commerce
Up to 145 new jobs are to be created by three firms in Galway and Dublin, it was announced today. Cloud computing company SourceDogg.com is to create 80 jobs at its operations centre in the IDA Business Park in Galway.
SourceDogg.com, which was set up in 2009 by Mark Scanlon and John Quigley, has a growing number of customers across five countries, including recent signing Aer Lingus.
The company has developed procurement software which allows users to find and evaluate new suppliers with an easy-to-use application.
The 80 jobs are across the company’s engineering, IT support and professional services areas, and follows the recent addition of 12 staff late last year following an investment from Nucleus Venture Partners.
Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton said: “If we are to reach the levels of employment and economic growth which we are determined to achieve, we must create a powerful engine of indigenous enterprise.
“Crucial in this will be exporting companies, and in particular high-tech, engineering-driven companies, and the Government’s Action Plan for jobs spells out a range of measures we will take to support these companies as they expand and create jobs.”
Meanwhile in Dublin, data collection firm Datalogic ADC plans to establish a shared services and customer management centre which will create an additional 30 jobs.
The company, a division of the Datalogic Group, will offer work to accountants, accounts payable/receivables, order management and inside sales personnel.
Elsewhere, Western Union is to create 35 jobs at its European office in Clonskeagh, south Dublin, taking the workforce to almost 100.
Irish Government plans a big motor tax hike on family cars
Popular cars targeted in move to change tax bands
THE Government plans to drive up the cost of taxing the most popular family cars. Car owners face a massive hike in the cost of their motor tax bills under a new scheme being considered.
The system of basing road tax and Vehicle Registration Tax on the level of emissions may soon be a thing of the past, and instead the tax band could be based on both vehicle size and emissions.
Popular family brands including Ford, Volkswagen and Toyota all could be pushed up into higher tax bands.
Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan have agreed that radical changes are needed to reverse falling motor tax revenues.
Toyota: The Government believes that too many cars are graded in lower tax bands based on carbon emissions, which were introduced by the previous administration of Fianna Fail and the Greens.
Under the new proposals, each group would pay a different tax rate based on a combination of emissions and engine sizes. The current system of the AA band was seen to be unfair because it disregards the cost and size of cars, meaning drivers of larger vehicles enjoy the same tax rates as smaller ones.
Drivers of cars such as the BMW520d diesel, which qualifies for the lowest tax band despite having a two-litre engine, could now be moved into a much higher tax bracket.
But even car owners in the 1.4-litre or 1.5-litre bracket would have to pay a lot more.
Motor tax revenue dropped to €988m last year, a fall of €72m from the peak in 2008.
The motor tax rate was attractive for new car buyers since 2008 as 90pc purchased have fallen into the lowest three tax bands of A, B and C which cost a maximum of €330 a year.
This means that, for example, the BMW 520d diesel with a price tag of more than €45,000 qualifies for the lowest tax band, as does a Toyota Yaris, which costs just €15,000. The Fine Gael-Labour administration has since increased motor tax across the board.
It is understood that only drivers of small, super eco-friendly cars would escape the hikes. But there are fears the new changes may discourage people from buying new cars.
This would mean lower purchase and road tax returns and could affect employment in the industry.
And yet again another Galway fatality
A van driver killed after hitting wall in Portumna Galway crash
A man was killed in a road accident in Portumna, Co Galway yesterday afternoon, the man was pronounced dead at the scene and taken to Portiuncula Hospital.
The driver in his 50s was fatally injured when the van he was driving collided with a wall along the Shannon Road in the area.
The accident happened at around 2.30pm today. He was pronounced dead at the scene and taken to Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.
Forensic officers have examined the scene of the crash. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to the collision to contact Loughrea garda station on 091 842870, or the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111.
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